Word Origin & History
stint"to limit, restrain, to be sparing or frugal," O.E. styntan "to blunt, make dull," from P.Gmc. *stuntijanan (cf. O.N. stuttr "short, scant," M.H.G. stunz "blunt, short," Ger. stutzen "to cut short, curtail, stop, hesitate"), from PIE base *(s)teu- "to beat, strike, push, thrust" (see
steep (adj.)). The noun is attested from c.1300.